Hello,For those of you who have been following my husbands journey.....it finally happened. The operation was thru the night, 1am until 10.40am. There was and has been complications but as we know, complications are mostly expected at some point with these big surgeries. He took longer than expected to come round and they struggled to get him stable enough for the ventilator to be removed.
His kidneys misbehaved for a while, and his pancreas - hes still needing continous insulin - hopefully short term damage. Hes needed various blood products since too - which they think might be the anti rejection drugs supressing his bone marrow too much- so tweaking that.
To all of you out there, you will know exactly what were going through - the peaks and troughs of recovery 🥴 Also, why i only just feel optimistic enough to post.
To those of you still waiting - your time will come - i can see now, that your time is your time - i dont think we would have been ready for this the first time he was listed. And make a note - the thing thats been most unexpected for me is his mental health post op - really really vulnerable, needy, clingy (wont let me leave or go home) and lack of positivity - really unlike him. Hes frightened and questions everything the nurses and Drs do and say. A bit paranoid, thinks theyre discussing him all the time, bless him.
To those of you diagnosed with warnings, mild, fatty liver type reversable conditions - fight with all your might before its too late. This isnt a surgery to talk about lightly, its not an easy way out and should only be considered as a life saving operation.
Happy Weekend All,
With love from my little corner in the hospital
Ewife
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Ewife
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Hi Ewife !!! Oh my days !! At long last .. yes I've followed hubby's journey along with your own worries .But can I say I'm so pleased for you both it has been one hell of a rollercoaster journey to reach this stage I know .
Please take things in your stride , im not post transplant or on a wait list but I understand the emotions both you and hubby will be going through, the many many questions you will be asking and the reassuring replies from the medical team and those on here that have been through liver transplant.
Take time for yourself Ewife as you too also need to take care of you physically and mentally to support hubby on his road to recovery
Yes....a long journey. Listed for transplant for 18months, 3 calls that got stood down - 1 of them even got as far as prepped for surgery. Then a period where bloods stabilised and he was suspended for a year. Taken off the list, caught food poisoning a few months after and went downhill fast. Relisted on April 23rd, call on 25th but stood down, now 5th time lucky finally transplanted. Not for the faint hearted!
I am so pleased for all concerned and can only pray for a speedy recovery. You are all very brave and sharing your journey. We all believe you deserve a happy ending. Love and well wishes to you all.
wishing hubby a speed recovery and you also. It’s scary for the ones watching on too. It’s such a journey. Thank heavens for all the donors and their families and docs etc. xxxx
Although “delighted” may be the wrong word to use I am so happy to hear that your transplant has happened at last, and as you say, you are possibly in a better place now rather than earlier to deal with it all. Your husband’s vulnerable mental state post op is pretty common in most folks who go through any major operation. I saw it with my very positive brave father following his aortic aneurism op and it surprised and dismayed us at the time but as he recovered he just became better and more positive and was back to his normal self very quickly. Different op I know but hopefully your husband will improve in a similar way. All the best and keep us posted. x
Congratulations on your husband's transplant. You are quite correct in this is not something to take lightly. due to the pain meds I had horrendous nightmares and hallucinations, no idea where I was most of the time. I had a few complications, spent nearly all the first 6 months in and out of hospital for one thing or another, bleeding spleen, infections, kidney damage, 0 wbc, sickness but 7 years later in here to tell the tale. Don't try to rush his recovery, it generally takes a year to recover from transplant surgery. I've probably said before but if you use Facebook please feel free to join our friendly and knowledgeable Facebook page called liver transplant support uk, thousands of people that have been in your situation, and can tell you what it's like from someone that has gone through it, rather than a doctor's point of view.
Congratulations and best wishes to you both. I remember after my transplant 20m ago now, some hallucinations, some weird concerns, and feeling "disconnected" for weeks afterwards. It isn't all plain sailing, as others and yourself have said, but there is the comfort of no longer waiting for "the call." Good luck to you both.
Good news, wishing him a speedy recovery, and you have to try and get some rest,I'm desperately struggling with my health at the moment, and was told too risky for the operation at the moment, but I have been trying everything to improve my health, small walks, light exercise and eating exactly what they recommend, lots of tests and praying that they change their mind when I get to see the consultant at the QE in June, the alternative doesn't bare thinking about, but I'm glad your husband has been given a chance, and everything crossed that he makes a full recovery and goes on to live a normal life as possible, 🙏🙏🙏
I’m so pleased for you guys?, they are amazing people the doctors, nurses and surgeons but you are so right you have to fight as well and sometimes it is a struggle, as you guys know. Great to get to the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course as I well known there is still a bit to do but it’s nom to look forward for building strength and enjoying a long life together 💕💕
I had a liver transplant 8 years ago. I remember how long the road can be to recover. The doctors will watch his physical symptoms, I recommend you also get him a therapist. In US the transplant team can get you one that works specifically with transplant recipients and their familiesIf you need to talk about specific things pm me.
Congratulations to you and your husband, I hope he makes a speedy recovery from the op and that he lives a long live with his new liver. Best of luck to you both and take care.
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